Symposium and Future Directions

Over three days, the symposium will reflect on recent developments in music and minority research both locally, at the MMRC, internationally. Central to the program is an exploration of the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of research, artistic practice, and social engagement.

The event features a variety of formats that engage both the past and the future. Two roundtables will examine the MMRC’s previous projects with current and former research fellows, highlighting unique contributions of each project as well as shared themes. A key roundtable, moderated by Ursula Hemetek, will bring together the MMRC’s international advisory board—Georgia Curran (University of Sydney), Marko Kölbl (mdw), Svanibor Pettan (University of Ljubljana), Mayco Santaella (Sunway University), and Deborah Wong (University of California, Los Angeles)—to discuss global perspectives on current issues in the field.

Two roundtable discussions will focus on artistic-activist perspectives, including one curated by the NGO Initiative Minderheiten (IM). Additionally, there will be three paper presentation sessions, during which scholars will present their current projects and research. Concerts will present local and global music, and the event will conclude with a collective celebration of music and dance at Brunnenpassage Wien (Art Social Space).

The symposium “Between Research and Activism: Futures of Music and Minority Studies” thus outlines a future for minority studies that builds on a successful past and leads the MMRC into a new phase of its work through local anchoring and international dialogue.

3 Day Programme
➥ Overview

Registration: Symposium (free admission)
➥ MMRC Symposium 2026

Registration: Concert only (13.02.2026)
➥ Sonic Encounters (free entry)